Page 74 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

others…Affec�ve dysfunc�on is at the root of the work in serving others. To begin this conversa�on,
majority of mental disorders and predisposes peo-
ple to and alters the course of many physical disor-
ders (Gross et al., 2020, p. 1).
Conversa�ons about the need for emo�onal regula-
�on have existed throughout human history, with
much focus on controlling or taming of emo�on.
Two authors of men�on are Augus�ne and Kierke-
gaard. At the end of the fourth century, Augus�ne,
with some basis in Platonic and stoic thought, “de-
fined emo�on ‘as that which leads one’s condi�on
to become so transformed that his judgment is
affected, and which is accompanied by pleasure
and pain’” (as cited in Lewis, et al., 2008, p. 5). Kier- biological and socio- cultural makeup and history;
kegaard’s wri�ngs emphasized his own emo�onal
experience; and he recorded a Chris�an Psychologi-
cal Exposi�on in 1849 addressing deep despair and
its connec�on to sin (Kierkegaard, 1980).
To narrow this conversa�on down to the focus of
this paper, “psychopathology involves problems
with emo�on and emo�on regula�on” (Gross & Ja-
zaieri, 2014, July). In view of the current evidence
that mo�va�on and emo�ve awareness and flu-
ency aid in promo�on of emo�on regula�on (Bar-
re�, 2006; DeSteno et al., 2013; Gross et al., 2014;
Johnson, 2017; Leahy et al, 2011; Moyal et al.,
2014), this paper gives Biblical- and research-based
valida�on for ongoing educa�on and curriculum
development to encourage our students in measu-
rable learning outcomes and increased compe-
tence in applying mo�va�on and emo�on fluency
skills to build awareness and regula�ng capacity.
This wri�ng is divided into four sec�ons. The first is to the heart is not totally limited to this viewpoint,
a summary of a Biblical perspec�ve of our work as
clinical psychology professors, instructors, clini-
cians, and as encouragers of our students and their
efforts. This includes review of a Genesis-based fac- this paper delves further into the Biblical evidence
tor list of human mo�va�on and desire (Appendix
A). The second sec�on addresses the Biblical evi-
dence to support a robust emo�onal psychology
curriculum. The third sec�on is conversa�on on the
value of emo�onal understanding for human being,
centered on specific research in the affec�ve sci-
ences field. The final sec�on includes an emo�on
fluency and categoriza�on chart (Appendix B) from
a Biblically-based perspec�ve, and a scripture-ba-
sed pa�ern which acts as a guideline in emo�on
processing.
Emo�on awareness and expression are not only in-
trinsically valuable for one as an individual, yet also would need to exist in the perfect harmony of His
key in educa�ng students in prepara�on for their
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emphasis is placed on the contribu�on emo�on flu-
ency brings to the full integra�on or wholeness of
the human heart, mind, body, and soul before the
Lord.
The Importance of Emo�on Fluency from a Chris�-
an Psychology Perspec�ve
As professionals working with students from a
Chris�an psychological perspec�ve, educa�onal
pursuits emphasize four key areas; psychosocial, in
emo�onal rela�onship to God, self and others; co-
gni�ve in logic and thought life; environmental, in
and spiritual, in ascertaining faith walk or the lack
thereof.
This journey as educators to our students, might be
conceptualized as the journey of encouraging peo-
ple in loving God with their heart, mind, soul and
strength and loving others as they love themselves
(Ma�hew 22:37-40). This is expanded further in
John 13:34 invi�ng expression of the greatest form
of love, as Christ Himself loved us, through sacrifi-
ce. It is essen�al to place this in perspec�ve of the
holis�c view of human existence as was men�oned,
to assist future psychologists in finding their way
from living life from the fallen perspec�ve into the
greater fullness of life as the redeemed.
In a�ending to the emo�on aspect of human living,
it is vital to recognize the strong connec�on that
exists between the Biblical concept of the heart and
our emo�onal lives. Though the scriptural referral
one needs only to examine the many cases where
Biblical men�on of “heart” contains rich feeling
content to note that there is a connec�on. Later
to support the value of human emo�on.
A Genesis-Based Worldview for a Prac�cal Chris�-
an Emo�on Psychology
The Genesis-based, fall-redemp�on perspec�ve
lays the founda�on for a prac�cal Chris�an Emo�o-
nal psychology.
Pre-Fall Context
At crea�on, all that mankind knew and experienced
was the goodness of God and his kingdom of peace.
God had prepared everything for mankind that they
crea�on.